Trump Administration, FAA Mandating Airlines Scrap DEI for Pilots

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 1:30 PM ET, Sat February 14, 2026

The Trump Administration and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a new mandatory “Operations Specification” for airline pilots, telling airlines they’re now required to hire airline pilots based on merit.

The news was quietly published on Friday, February 13 and requires all U.S. air carriers to terminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. Failure, according to the release, “will subject airlines to federal investigation.”

The Operations Specification says, in part, that it “acknowledges minimum regulatory requirements…and the importance of merit-based hiring that requires a certificate holder to identify candidates whose specific experience and technical aptitude align with the complexities of their specific operating environment."

We reached out to all major American air carriers, and thus far, American Airlines, United and Southwest all referred us to Airlines for America, the leading association for the aviation industry.

Airlines for America's statement was as follows: "Safety is, and always will be, the top priority for U.S. airlines. A4A carriers comply with all federal regulations and laws, including those related to qualifications, training and licensing."

Southwest also added, "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees."

President Trump has been vocal about dismantling DEI practices from the government to the private sector, signing an executive order on the subject that called DEI “illegal discrimination.” Trump has claimed, without evidence, that DEI practices unfairly discriminate against white Americans.

“When families board their aircraft, they should fly with confidence knowing the pilot behind the controls is the best of the best. The American people don’t care what their pilot looks like or their gender—they just care that they are [the] most qualified man or woman for the job,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Safety drives everything we do, and this commonsense measure will increase transparency between passengers and airlines.”

However, there are warning signs that dismantling DEI practices could have long-term impacts on the travel industry.

For example, in November 2025, a group of lawmakers put into question the FAA’s dismantling of DEI initiatives specifically for aviation mechanics, especially since the government had already appropriated funds for DEI initiatives to hire more aviation mechanics before Trump’s dismantling of DEI.

This male-dominated workforce (women only comprise 2.9 percent of aircraft mechanics in the nation) has an average worker age nearing retirement. A lack of training and hiring a younger workforce—regardless of race or gender—could potentially create stalls that further exacerbate the historic backlog of new aircraft, which currently sits at 15,000 worldwide and is estimated to cost the industry $11 billion. Getting rid of DEI programs, which can provide training assistance or widen the search pool for potential applicants, might worsen the workforce shortage.

The travel industry has had a mixed reaction to Trump’s dismantling of DEI—with many, including major airlines, staying quiet. Yet last February, when the Trump Administration made its first attempts at dismantling DEI, Intrepid Travel, Tourism Cares and Delta Air Lines reaffirmed their commitment to DEI.

The US Tour Operators Association also stood in support of DEI, saying, “USTOA believes that travel is a force for good, and as such, we will continue to focus on sustainability and DEI. The USTOA Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and you, our members, remain steadfast in our support of efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion industry wide.”